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Still having to watch my 11 month old dog constantly, is it normal?

6 replies

RedCrumbs · 28/09/2023 19:20

My 11 month old puppy goes to the door when he needs to go (this can honestly be 20 mins apart though) but I need to be there in about 30 seconds/at least say ok coming for him to wait and I let him out. If I don’t, he just wees at the door. I would assume that’s somewhat normal? As he’s showing signs by going to the door but how am I supposed to actually function? He is crated at night to prevent any issues but I have to still be constantly watching. I can’t even take him out to pee and out earphones in for an hour or he will most likely leave me a pee or poo at the door. I am still offering him outside every hour because clearly he isn’t fully trained… I can bring it down to half an hour which I have done in the past but it isn’t seeming to actually help the issue of I need to work from home and have my headset on for about an hour, unfortunately I cannot be in the view of the door and do feel at 11 months this should not be an issue? Is this normal? I feel it’s definitely not. Any advice?

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 28/09/2023 19:27

I wonder if he thinks that being by the door is ok to pee there or outside. So either areas are for toileting.

Perhaps start going outside with him and praising him when he managed to wait and go outside to give him that extra reinforcement that toileting is for outside (and also add a keyword so that you can also use that to reinforce when and where you want him to pee).

RedCrumbs · 28/09/2023 19:46

@BiteyShark i always go with him and praise/reward and obviously when he goes inside he doesn’t get that, so there’s definitely a big incentive for him to wait and I feel he should maybe have gauged the response from me difference between near the door and outside? I do wonder if it’s better I take him on a short walk around the block so he empties his bladder fully, vs going out in the garden for a quick lift his leg type wee which obviously doesn’t empty his bladder, although he isn’t marking inside (he’s neutered and this stopped that) but he just doesn’t empty his full bladder unless he gets to lift his left a few times which he won’t do in the garden, he knows if I’m letting him out it’s to go for a wee with the “toilet” command and he goes right away so he does know but he only goes the once, which I reckon is why he’s maybe always ready to go again in 20 mins, still not sure why he won’t just wait for his next hour toilet break though! It’s draining me so much, it’s making working from home so hard and I even took a break of 6 months from work to fully devote to him! Really had hoped we would be ok by now

OP posts:
nottaotter · 28/09/2023 19:55

I would get the vet to check for a urine infection, one of our dogs started waking in night for a wee which she has never done and it was due to infection.

Some breeds/dogs do just take longer than others. I wouldn't treat or praise for a wee outside , clever dogs can start doing lots of little wees for treats/
praise instead of one big wee.

margotrose · 29/09/2023 07:53

Personally at that age, I would be starting to replace the rewards with praise - give him the command then lots of fuss and a "good boy". He doesn't need food or a treat every time he toilets.

The problem with using food rewards is that they will do a little wee and expect a reward for it - then another wee means another reward etc.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 29/09/2023 07:57

Is your garden dog proof? Can you leave him outside to have a mooch around for 10mins? Mine would be upset if every time they got to go outside it was for a quick pee and then back in.

MercyIsEliminated · 29/09/2023 17:35

I would say it is quite unusual for a dog of this age to be having regular accidents. Like a PP, I wonder whether your dog assumes that it is O.K. to pee at the door. Dogs are creatures of habit and it sounds as though this is a habit for him now. Can you block off the area where he normally pees, using a stairgate or similar? That way you can remove that option and reinforce that he needs to be outside to relieve himself.

Your plan of taking him for a short walk may help as well. He can develop new habits and hopefully that will solve the issue.

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